At the moment, I am perched high above the House floor where a small group of spectators have already taken their seats to watch today's vote to formally transmit the articles of #impeachment from the House to the Senate.
I'll have the coverage for @CourthouseNews. Stay tuned!
I'll have the coverage for @CourthouseNews. Stay tuned!
@CourthouseNews Lawmakers are trickling into the chamber and I spy with my little eye, a group of newly-minted impeachment managers: Schiff, Jeffries, Demings....
@CourthouseNews Speaker Pelosi, donning a bright coral-hued ensemble, has entered the chamber & is seated next to Schiff. A friendly convo appears to be unfolding between the Speaker, Schiff, Demings and I believe that is Sylvia Garcia (her face is turned away, I can't get a great look at her)
@CourthouseNews Rep. Jerry Nadler from the floor: This trial is necessary because Pres. Trump gravely abused the power of his office when he strong-armed the government to investigate his rival... he betrayed his country... he invited foreign interference into our elections, again.
Nadler: He did all this for his personal political gain and then he violated the Constitution by stonewalling Congress' efforts to investigate.
Nadler also notes how just yesterday, Dems rec'd critical evidence re: Trump's associate, Lev Parnas. "It further proves Trump's schemes... to go after his rivals."
Under today's resolution that will transmit the articles from the House to Senate, Nadler notes that add'l evidence can still be transmitted.
"The Senate is on trial. We will see if they conduct a fair trial," Nadler says.
"The Senate is on trial. We will see if they conduct a fair trial," Nadler says.
Impeachment manager Schiff now speaking from the House floor as they prepare to vote on a resolution that will transmit articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate.
Schiff: Pres. Trump put his own personal interests above our interests, above national security. If he is not stopped, he will do it again.
"The only remedy is the conviction and removal of office of President Donald Trump," Schiff says.
"The only remedy is the conviction and removal of office of President Donald Trump," Schiff says.
From the floor, GOP Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy - pictured below with Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman - says Pelosi held the articles of impeachment "hostage" and all for nothing. She had "no moral victory," but "just a failed strategy."
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@CourthouseNews By selecting the managers she did today, McCarthy says Pelosi "proved" she's "not interested in upholding the Constitution."
Developing story on managers here: courthousenews.com/litigator-lawm…
Developing story on managers here: courthousenews.com/litigator-lawm…
@CourthouseNews McCarthy says the impeachment investigation was "marred by selective leaks from the media."
He says we've been through impeachment before, yes, but that "we believed in the rule of law back then."
He says we've been through impeachment before, yes, but that "we believed in the rule of law back then."
@CourthouseNews McCarthy says Trump is "not being given a fair chance" to clear his name."
The president had multiple opportunities to present information to support himself or his case. Multiple chances to respond to subpoenas. He did not. So he was impeached for obstruction of Congress.
The president had multiple opportunities to present information to support himself or his case. Multiple chances to respond to subpoenas. He did not. So he was impeached for obstruction of Congress.
@CourthouseNews Further, he directed officials who had information not to testify or to respond to congressional requests. Again, this is a huge part of why we all find ourselves at this juncture.
@CourthouseNews Nadler says he'd like to start w/2 points: The GOP will "do anything" he says to avoid talking about what Trump did - asking a foreign gov't to interfere in an election on his behalf- and then, the cover-up.
New documents and new evidence "unmistakably point to the president's guilt," Nadler says.
More on that here: courthousenews.com/house-releases…
More on that here: courthousenews.com/house-releases…
"The American people understand that a trial without evidence is not a trial at all. We must protect our Constitution and the integrity of our elections. We must remove this president to protect our country," Nadler says.
Speaker Pelosi now delivering remarks.
Pelosi thanks Doug Collins for his recent apology to her and Democrats for his comment suggesting that Democrats are "in love" with terrorists. As she speaks from the dais, Collins, seated nearby, throws a hand up, juts out lower lip, raises eyebrows as if to say "Sure, whatever"
Pelosi delivers her remarks on the House floor today flanked by a large white poster with an American flag and the words "To the Republic for which it stands..." writ large across it.
She recalls Trump words when he said Article II gave him "power to do whatever he wants..."
She recalls Trump words when he said Article II gave him "power to do whatever he wants..."
She says of Trump's comments, "That is a monarchy. That is a monarchy. What we have is a Republic," she says, pointing to the poster featuring the pledge of allegiance
The president takes an oath to preserve and defend the Constitution. This is an oath Trump has "blatantly violated and for this reason he was impeached by the House of Representatives," Pelosi says.
Pelosi says Senate would have liked to have hte articles sent over on Christmas Eve, "so they could dismiss it."
But that dismissal would have been a cover up, Pelosi adds.
"Dismissal is cover up," she says, at least three times in the last few minutes.
But that dismissal would have been a cover up, Pelosi adds.
"Dismissal is cover up," she says, at least three times in the last few minutes.
Specifically, Pelosi notes how time helped build the case for impeachment. She points to the recently obtained emails showing Trump’s political appointee at OMB ordered a hold on aid to Ukraine some 90 minutes after the July 25 call with Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Senate leader and the President are afraid of more facts coming to light, @SpeakerPelosi says.
"The American people want a fair trial... the American people deserve the truth. The Constitution requires a trial, a fair trial."
"The American people want a fair trial... the American people deserve the truth. The Constitution requires a trial, a fair trial."
@SpeakerPelosi Pelosi notes how this is impeachment manager Zoe Lofgren's third impeachment. (What insight!) She was a staffer to the House Judic Cmte during Nixon impeachment, a member of House Judic Cmte during Clinton impeachment and now an impeachment manager for Trump.
@SpeakerPelosi "We see Russians now hacking again.. it just reminds me... that most Americans would think that voters in America should decide who our president is, not Vladimir Putin in Russia," Pelosi says, referring to this: nytimes.com/2020/01/13/us/…
@SpeakerPelosi The resolution appointing impeachment managers and formally approving transmittal of articles of impeachment from House to Senate is now underway. It passed by a voice vote, but a recorded vote was requested by Doug Collins. Vote to end in roughly 15 minutes.
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@SpeakerPelosi @CourthouseNews BREAKING: The House has voted 228-193 in favor of appointing impeachment managers and to formally transmit the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate. Story to come for @CourthouseNews
